Click Here To Purchase Good-bye and Amen

Author: Beth Gutcheon

Publisher: William Morrow

ISBN: 978-0-06-053907-8

Family is very much a part of this novel. It features many characters that are involved with one another in some way. We have family, close friends and of course, relatives.

The beginning is quite harrowing, I thought. The Moss children have just lost their parents and have been told to pick out what they need from the possessions left behind. Each of the now grown-up children recalls how their mother influenced them a great deal during their life, especially growing up. 

Eventually a turn of events cause the siblings to meet up with one another at the old house their parents lived in. All is certainly far from rosy when young Jimmy causes a commotion and takes the baby grand piano.  

Monica, the middle sister, is furious not to mention upset. She wanted the piano and now it has been snatched and taken away from her by Jimmy, who has not made himself popular.

People assume he’s dabbled with illegal substances - namely drugs. Are they correct in their thoughts?

Should Jimmy be fair and show kindness toward his sisters? Does he even want to be a part of this family anymore? Why? How? Read on to find out.

There is so much more to this story, many events and circumstances emerge to cause more chaos.

Monica’s husband, Norman Faithful, brings alive this fictional story.

After he receives a message from God, he decides its time to convert to Christianity. He turns his attention to the young students and tries to get more people interested in visiting the church. However, he is not turning out to be much of a Christian having a tendency to steal members from other churches. His fan base is quickly deteriorating and he finds he might have made a few too many enemies.  

In the midst of his relationship with the church, he succeeds in making his wife feel very rejected indeed. What will become of their marriage?

Although I found this book really enjoyable, helped by Norman Faithful, whom I found such a brilliant character, I was confused. It reads like a fictional novel but has photographs in the middle of real people. Are they part of the fictional Moss family? I suppose they must be but I found this side of things very surreal. It is the first book I have come across adopting this format. I wonder how many other readers will find this confusing?

Over all though a very unique book indeed with characters you either love (or hate) that come to life with the help of Gutcheon’s strong narrative skills.  Entertaining.